Zero-drift nanopower OpAmp maximizes battery life

December 07, 2017 //
By Christoph Hammerschmidt

The combination of ultra-high precision and very low current consumption is the unique selling proposal of Texas Instrument’s latest operational amplifier IC. Other outstanding features of the LPV821 are, according to the supplier, exceptional power-to-precision performance and zero drift. What’s more, the device is consuming 60 percent less power than competitive zero-drift devices.

Designed for use in precision applications such as wireless sensing nodes, home and factory automation equipment, and portable electronics, the The LPV821 enables engineers to design lighter, smaller and more portable applications with lower-capacity batteries and longer system lifetimes.

Key features and benefits of the LPV821 op amp include optimized offset, drift and 1/f noise (flicker noise), high DC precision, and no duty cycling. With this feature set, the LPV821 is beneficial for applications where both precision and low power are essential system needs, including industrial gas detectors, field transmitters and battery packs. With best-in-class supply current of 650 nA, the LPV821 extends battery lifetimes and enables lower power budgets in precision systems than competitive zero-drift devices. Its nanopower consumption enables always-on applications such as continuous and blood glucose monitoring, and other electrochemical cell applications.

Additionally, self-calibration technology helps engineers save system development cost and speed time to market.

Pre-production samples of the LPV821 op amp are now available through the TI store and authorized distributors in a 5-pin small-outline transistor (SOT-23) package. Pricing starts at US$0.80 in 1,000-unit quantities.